When you upload a video to Vimeo or YouTube, choosing a public setting, private setting, or unlisted setting determines who can view your content. A private video is perfect for sharing sensitive company information, while unlisted videos serve as an ideal middle ground for content you want to share selectively without making it fully public.
In this guide, we’ll outline how privacy settings function on YouTube and Vimeo and offer examples of videos that fit best into each category.
Exploring Vimeo privacy options: Private, public, and password-protected
Vimeo has an HTML5 video player that offers numerous sharing options, giving uploaders more control over their content. You can even set your entire account to private mode and only share your videos with a chosen few. For example, you can set a password for a video, and anyone who enters that password can watch it — even those without a Vimeo account.
Vimeo also offers a host of tools, like an AI script generator, end screens that guide viewers back to your website, and analytics to help small businesses improve their video marketing.
Vimeo also gives businesses and individuals more control over distributing content. You can check out more of Vimeo’s advanced sharing settings here and read more below.
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Public Vimeo videos
Public videos on Vimeo share similarities with their YouTube counterparts: They appear in search results and are discoverable by anyone.
However, Vimeo's public setting includes additional features. For instance, you can control where your Vimeo video appears by restricting embedding to specific websites (like your company domain) or turning off embedding entirely. You can also disable downloading so viewers can watch but not save the video. This added level of security means your channel remains discoverable while protecting your intellectual property.
A public video setting works well for:
- Marketing campaigns aiming to reach new customers
- Educational content meant to help a broad audience
- Brand awareness videos that benefit from organic discovery
- Community engagement content that encourages discussion and sharing
Upload a public video →
Private Vimeo videos
Vimeo’s video privacy settings give users control over video access, so it’s great for businesses and creators who need to manage distribution carefully.
A private video setting works best for:
- Internal training materials containing proprietary information
- Draft versions of content requiring team review
- Confidential corporate communications
- Personal videos meant for family and friends
Instead of simply hiding a video from public view, Vimeo provides multiple layers of access control that allow for more tailored sharing options. The private video setting is available on all Vimeo plans, even the free one!
In contrast to the more basic permission system of a private YouTube video, Vimeo allows you to:
Set individual viewer permissions without requiring accounts: Viewers don’t need a Vimeo account to watch a private video—you can just generate a private link and send it to selected individuals.
Create custom passwords for different viewer groups: You can password-protect your videos, allowing people or groups to access the content without needing a personal invite.
Restrict viewing to specific email domains: You can restrict content to employees for internal company use by allowing access only to email addresses within a domain, such as @companyname.com.
Generate detailed viewing analytics for each person: Vimeo provides detailed insights into who watched a video, how much they watched, and their level of engagement. These analytics are valuable for businesses tracking training completion, target audience engagement, or client interest.
Upload a private video →
Unlisted Vimeo videos
An unlisted Vimeo video is one that won't appear in Vimeo's search results or on your public profile, but can be viewed by anyone with the direct video link.
An unlisted video setting is best for:
- Conference presentation recordings shared with attendees
- Portfolio pieces sent to potential clients or employers
- Temporary content that will be removed after time
- Product demonstrations shared with customer segments
To make a video unlisted, you’ll need a Vimeo Plus, Starter, or higher level plan. To make an unlisted video, you just need to change the video's privacy settings to "Unlisted" within the video's settings panel.
This allows you a couple of special privileges:
Send private video links: You can send anyone that “private” video link, and they will be able to watch your video.
Embed a video: You can embed your video on your website and still be eligible to appear in Google or other search engine results, driving visitor traffic directly to your site rather than Vimeo. This is a standout differentiator compared to YouTube, because YouTube does not let your unlisted videos appear in search engine results pages (SERPs).
Compare Vimeo and YouTube’s video SEO features →
Password-protected Vimeo videos
Setting a password ensures only those with permission can view the content. You can add a password to your video on all Vimeo plans except Free.
Features of publishing with a password include:
Multiple unique share links for the same video: Share the video with different audiences, each receiving a unique link.
Link-specific password protection: Add a unique password for each link.
Expiration dates for temporary access: Set a time limit on the link’s accessibility.
Detailed engagement metrics for each share link: Track how much of the video viewers watch or if they interact with the content.
Upload a password-protected video →
Understanding YouTube privacy settings: Private, public, and unlisted
YouTube serves broad audiences, from individual creators to large enterprises, but it has a couple of quirks that could impact how people find your videos. More on that later.
When managing videos on YouTube, you can choose between three privacy settings through YouTube Studio, each designed to serve different sharing needs and audience types.
Public videos on YouTube
When you set a YouTube video to “public,” you put it on the platform's global stage. These videos appear in search results, show up in recommendations, and are visible through hashtags and playlists.
Because YouTube's algorithm shares public videos with potentially interested viewers, this is the setting you want if you’re seeking to build an audience.
Private videos on YouTube
Setting a video to private on YouTube makes it accessible to up to 50 users when you send a link. These videos do not appear in search results, as recommendations, or on your channel. Unlike unlisted videos, which anyone with a link can view, a private YouTube video remains hidden unless the uploader grants access by adding the viewer’s email address. The viewer must have a Google account and be logged into their YouTube account to see the video.
Unlisted videos on YouTube
YouTube currently operates in a way that prevents your unlisted videos from appearing in search results, even if you embed that video on your web site. However, anyone with the link can watch them without special permission; they just need the video link. This flexibility makes unlisted videos a good choice for selective content distribution, as long as you’re not interested in sending video traffic to your website. If your needs change, you can always modify these settings.
Frequently asked questions about video privacy
Do you lose views on unlisted YouTube videos?
No, views on unlisted YouTube videos aren’t lost. Anyone with the link can still view the video, and YouTube counts the view in its analytics. The video won't appear in search results, on your channel, or in recommendations, but the views from those with the link will still be recorded and included in your total view count.
If a YouTube video was initially set to public and later changed to unlisted, the views accumulated while the video was public will remain. However, only those with the link can view the video.
Are unlisted YouTube videos secure?
Unlisted YouTube videos aren’t entirely secure. While they won't appear publicly, anyone with the link can still view, share, or distribute the video. For Vimeo, you can also embed unlisted videos on a website. Anyone can see it, but it won’t appear in Vimeo’s public search results or your profile.
Is private or unlisted better for my video?
Both are useful depending on your needs. On Vimeo, the private video setting offers complete control, with access limited to the specific people you choose. Unlisted videos allow broader sharing via a link, with added features like password protection and domain restrictions.
YouTube has more basic options: Private videos are restricted to invited users, and unlisted videos are shareable via a link but YouTube prevents them from appearing in search results even if embedded on your website.
Control your privacy settings with Vimeo
Every Vimeo privacy setting comes with built-in tools to keep your videos secure. From domain-level restrictions to detailed access logs, Vimeo helps enterprises handle private company material or develop and collaborate on video marketing. It also allows creative professionals to protect their intellectual property.
Vimeo's flexible privacy controls offer enhanced security, making it an excellent choice for businesses that must maintain tight control over their video content. And Vimeo also provides resources to help you edit your videos or create livestreams for your audience!
